About the Rule of Law Forum

Balancing Data Protection with Transparent Justice: The European Legal Framework

The Tenth Annual Regional Rule of Law Forum for South East Europe, hosted by the AIRE Centre and Civil Rights Defenders, will take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 10 and 11 November 2023. The event is supported by Sida and the UK Government.

The Regional Rule of Law Forum is one of the most important events of the year for members of the judiciary, lawyers, law practitioners and NGOs in the Western Balkans. The Forum aims to promote the national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, to encourage regional cooperation and to assist the process of EU integration in the region.

This year’s Forum will focus on the topic of “Balancing Data Protection with Transparent Justice: The European Legal Framework”. Discussions will centre around the protection of Article 8, the right to respect for private and family life, in the context of judicial proceedings, taking account of the safeguards required under Article 6, the right to a fair trial. This includes balancing the requirement for judicial transparency with the requirement to protect the right to private life of parties to proceedings, considering when it is appropriate or necessary to anonymise judgments and if and when is it permissible to admit and/or rely upon intercepted, electronic communications evidence. These issues are topical across Europe, as ever-evolving technology continues to transform how we investigate and prosecute crimes and how we conduct judicial proceedings.

The Rule of Law Forum: A Decade of Progress

Over the past decade, the Rule of Law Forum for South East Europe, established in 2014, has grown into a crucial platform for promoting the European Convention on Human Rights, encouraging regional judicial cooperation, and supporting the process of EU integration in South East Europe.

Throughout this decade, the Rule of Law Forum has evolved, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of human rights and the rule of law. From deliberating the protections of judicial independence and impartiality, to timely discussions on safeguarding human rights in times of emergency, the Forum consistently focused on addressing critical issues at the core of the judiciary, making it one of the most important events of the year that gathers members of the judiciary, lawyers, legal practitioners, and NGOs in the region.

But, how did we get here? Join us on a journey through time as we celebrate a decade of promoting the rule of law in South East Europe..”

GALLERY

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The Rule of Law Platform for Western Balkans provides comprehensive insight into the rule of law and protection of individual rights in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.